Lazing through hot summer days at their beach hut, life seems just about perfect for the Vincent family - until their peace is shattered by murder. An incident between Paul Vincent and Stevie Clarke - an unbalanced beachcomber known by some as 'The Sandman' - leads Paul to inform the police he believes Clarke is the murderer. This provokes frightening and prolonged reprisals against the family from Clarke. Matters deteriorate further when Leah, Paul's teenage daughter, unwittingly reveals evidence to the police which implicates her own father. This gripping psychological thriller places turbulent emotions in stark contrast to beautiful surroundings, testimony to the fragile nature of tranquility.

Most helpful customer reviews

The Vincent family is set to enjoy some downtime at their Mudeford Sandbank beach hut, near Christchurch Harbour in Dorset, England. It doesn't take long for a shocking, brutal murder to disturb this tranquil setting in Sandman by author Ian Kingsley.

We meet Paul Vincent, his wife, Sasha, and their 13-year-old daughter, Leah, at a windsurfing lesson. We quickly learn how Sasha's flirting brings out the worst in Paul. Paul finds himself apologizing for a jealous outburst directed at the windsurf instructor. The point-of-view switches to actress Carol Davis recalling her horrifying rape on the beach not far from the Vincent's hut by a man wearing a balaclava. This two-pronged opening with a peaceful beach scene and a violent assault in the opening chapter hooked me instantly.

It has been said that good fiction must have conflict. Kingsley has included enough conflict here for two novels. An incident on the beach puts Paul at odds with a young disturbed loner, a man named Stevie Clarke. Clarke, known by the locals as 'The Sandman' doesn't do well with confrontation. His resentment boils; he produces a large knife and aggressively warns Paul, 'I'll kill you the next time you cross me.' A short time after a jogger is killed, Paul informs the police that he believes Clarke is the killer. Clarke is desperate to get even with Paul for putting the police on him and he begins to stalk Leah relentlessly.

The police appear inept in their effort to catch the killer despite an obvious connection to the previous rape on the beach. Carol Davis contacts Paul and soon the pair are working together to prove to the police Stevie Clark is the killer/rapist.Read more ›

Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)

Amazon.com:
10 reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Highly recommended mystery/psychological thriller!Aug. 13 2010

By
Wilson R.
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Paperback

The Vincent family is set to enjoy some downtime at their Mudeford Sandbank beach hut, near Christchurch Harbour in Dorset, England. It doesn't take long for a shocking, brutal murder to disturb this tranquil setting in Sandman by author Ian Kingsley.

We meet Paul Vincent, his wife, Sasha, and their 13-year-old daughter, Leah, at a windsurfing lesson. We quickly learn how Sasha's flirting brings out the worst in Paul. Paul finds himself apologizing for a jealous outburst directed at the windsurf instructor. The point-of-view switches to actress Carol Davis recalling her horrifying rape on the beach not far from the Vincent's hut by a man wearing a balaclava. This two-pronged opening with a peaceful beach scene and a violent assault in the opening chapter hooked me instantly.

It has been said that good fiction must have conflict. Kingsley has included enough conflict here for two novels. An incident on the beach puts Paul at odds with a young disturbed loner, a man named Stevie Clarke. Clarke, known by the locals as "The Sandman" doesn't do well with confrontation. His resentment boils; he produces a large knife and aggressively warns Paul, "I'll kill you the next time you cross me." A short time after a jogger is killed, Paul informs the police that he believes Clarke is the killer. Clarke is desperate to get even with Paul for putting the police on him and he begins to stalk Leah relentlessly.

The police appear inept in their effort to catch the killer despite an obvious connection to the previous rape on the beach. Carol Davis contacts Paul and soon the pair are working together to prove to the police Stevie Clark is the killer/rapist. Leah's attempt to help with the investigation only serves to muddy her father's work when she hands over evidence that implicates Paul as the murderer to the detectives.

Sandman touches our primary emotions: jealousy, guilt, love, fear, hatred, and grief. As a father, I related to Paul's unwavering commitment to keep his family safe. I also understood his discomfort with his wife's tendency to flirt openly with men. Kingsley has written an intriguing mystery/psychological thriller with interesting, believable and well-developed characters. There are twists, turns, red herrings, and a healthy dose of hair-raising fear and suspense to keep even the most fickle reader captivated. The dialogue is authentic, and, along with the scene-painting narrative, you'll feel like you're on the beach witnessing the unfolding action.

Just when you think you have it all sorted out, the author changes directions--successfully keeping you guessing until the final pages. When you begin Sandman make sure you set aside a good bit of time, for you won't stop reading until the last page is savored. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy a great mystery!

"Until we accept the fact that life itself is founded in mystery, we shall learn nothing." ~Henry Miller

Paul Vincent, an architect, is married to Shasa, a stunning beautiful woman, and father is their fourteen year old daughter whom thankfully took after her mom in the looks department. As their dream home is having its finishing touch done, they decide to take a much needed time off at a beach hut at Mudeford Sandbank in Dorset, England. What could be better than toes in the sand, fresh sea air to inhale and hearing the breaking of waves. As they lazily enjoy their holiday, they are not aware of trouble brewing in a nearby area.

The meeting of the "Sandman" aka Stevie Clark, and the Vincent's on the beach is anything but friendly. Stevie seems to be unable to communicate without a knife in his hand. Could he be behind the recent unbelievable violent attack on an aspiring actress, Carol Davis?

During a party hosted by the Vincent's, Paul has to come face-to-face to the realization of what his wife's constant flirting has resulted in. This momentous occurrence starts a series of events that has Paul questioning his marriage, Stevie accused of crimes that he insists he has not committed and a family forever changed.

That is just a small taste of the story line in Ian Kingsley's "Sandman". I am giving only a sampling of it so not to ruin the main courses available for the reader to savor. This book is, a no-brainier really, a day at the beach or pool side read, but I think reading it in the dead of winter can give a reader reason for warmth. You are able to relate to the Vincent family and are able to sympathize with them as well. Although you may think you have this book all figured out, trust me you don't, wait until the end.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

A thrilling ride from start to finish...Sept. 2 2010

By
G. Reba
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Paperback

"Sandman" by Ian Kingsley presents the perfect case of "you can't judge a book by it's cover" as the most likely person to suspect is not always the person that committed the crime.

At books opening, the author lulls you in with a safe harbor of words as the scene shows a family seeking solace and time together away from the crazy worls. Then, he violently thrashes the surrounding waters almost upending your craft as he introduces the reason this family should find that calm unsettlingly. The two stories intertwine when a brutal murder occurs creating havoc among the small community, but mostly for the father figure, Paul, and a local, Clarke, known as "The Sandman". It seems both had reason enough to commit the crime....the real question is....who did it?

An emotional thriller with just enough twists to keep the ending undistubed by the readers attempts as guessing....perfect for that weekend escape to the beach, just don't let your imagination run away with you.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

holiday turns into a nightmare in this thrilling page turnerAug. 30 2010

By
bookworm
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Paperback

"Sandman" by Ian Kingsley is an extraordinary thriller that tells the tale of a family's vacation turning into a nightmare through murder, rape and most of all lack of trust and wrong accusations leveled against the innocent.Ian Kingsley has written a phenomenal mystery story that has all the elements of a murder mystery combined with the suspense of a thriller, resulting in a book that keeps the reader guessing at the next developments, while making the reader continue to read to determine how this story can be untwisted to reach a conclusion.A family is having a nice holiday, father, mother and daughter spending some family time at the beach. But then things go wrong, from an unusual character "Sandman" whose appearance is the beginning of things to come. In a number of twists and turns that threaten to tear the family apart, the characters have to work with and at the same time against the police to claim their innocence while determining who committed murder. Family loyalties are tested and surprising twists keep the reader guessing throughout the book.I highly recommend this book to any fan of a good mystery or thriller. It really keeps the reader guessing with all the twists and turns.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

This Sandman will not help you sleep!Aug. 30 2010

By
kratzy
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Paperback

"Sandman" is a modern thriller by Ian Kingsley that keeps the reader captured in the twists of a story with many underpinnings. From a rather inept policeforce trying to solve a murder and rape, which may or may not be connected, to the suspicions that threaten to tear a family apart, this story has everything that makes a good mystery story. Suspense and interesting plot twists as well as a series of well developed characters that add to the unique storyline, Ian Kingsley has written a thrilling mystery that the reader will not be able to put down, once started.The story starts off innocently enough with a well intended family vacation, but encounters with some of the local characters, most prominently an odd loaner caller Sandman, lead to murder, kidnapping and expose how an inept policy force can almost destroy the lives of the innocent. Some well intended actions backfire and the family at the center of the story pays a price that almost threatens to tear them apart, just when they need to support each other.This book is perfect for vacation reading, but will also definitely please everyone that is a fan of serious mystery books.